OAKS CUT DOWN TO SIZE

Match Report by Rob Hughes
This is going to be short as my head is killing me and I've lost a few brain cells!
The game started off well for BOEHC with some slick and accurate passing starting from the back through the midfield and onto the forwards. Early pressure on the Sevenoaks goal. It was clear the whole team were up for the game and we wanted to prove to Head Coach Cal that we don't have to go a few goals down in order to play our best hockey. Nevertheless, only a superb save from a 1 vs 1 from BOE GK James Craigmyle kept the scores at 0-0.
But then after some sustained attacks we managed to get a penalty corner which was dispatched with immense power and skill by 'goal machine' Chris Harden high to the goalkeepers right hand side and almost broke the net. It was that fierce that the keeper didn't even have chance to move. 1-0 up. Sevenoaks then came at us hard and a wayward pass from Ben Wyatt found their attacker nicely. He drove at the goal and a great initial save from James Craigmyle looped the ball into the air whereupon a Sevenoaks player took the Baseball option and swung his stick to smash the ball into the back of an empty goal. 1-1.
BOEHC don't do 'heads down' and weren't going to let this affect their game and drove forward playing good hockey. However a quick pass from their midfield to one of their attackers would result in an epic mis-control which would put the ball up in the air and as the Sevenoaks forward swung his stick round to reclaim the ball his stick connected with the on-coming Rob Hughes. Down he went with shouts from Dom saying "It's ok there's no blood...oh...oh...no wait. There is blood." Off he went to the sidelines to recover. This didn't stop BOEHC continuing their great play as they bombarded the Sevenoaks goal. Unfortunately Dom would fall over a 'phantom foot' and twist his ankle just as Michael Lawrence was about to run the ball through the whole of the Oppo defence and score..... or so Mike says. But not to worry as we would get another goal before half time. An great ball was played through to the forwards only for it to hit a Sevenoaks defenders foot. Michael Lawrence was quick as a flash on the free hit and sprung into the D with pace and power. He looked up and unselfishly laid the ball off with an inch perfect pass (something Mike would not have done last season!) to the well placed Chris Harden. Chris would turn adeptly and cleverly flick the ball into the goal. Half time. 2-1.
The second half was pretty much all BOEHC as their skill, teamwork, flair and determination combined to give Sevenoaks very little of the ball. The best goal of the game came from a wonderful counter attack of a few precise passes and moves. It was begun by Tom Archer flowing forwards from our 23 with authority before laying the ball to the forwards whose quick interlink play completely bypassed the flatfooted Oaks defence. Chris Harden wobbled into the D before being provider and slipping the ball to James Logan on the p spot to cooly slide the ball past the rushing GK. 3-1. Teamwork at its finest. Skipper Sam Djavit did manage to pull up injured with his 'poorly hammy' so with Dom already off too that gave Calum the opportunity to play a brief cameo role for the final 10mins.He rolled back the years with some sublime passes and flashes of immense skill that made the Sevenoaks players look silly.
A very professional, comprehensive and mature victory. Sevenoaks are the best team that BOEHC have played this season and as a result we played our best hockey to beat them. Final score 3-1 and we go top of the table.

MOTM: James Craigmyle for many great saves yet again.
DOTD: Rob Hughes for getting a stick to the head.